Family Action Council of Tennessee/Family Action of Tennessee Newsletter

May 11, 2012 | Volume 17

	This Week's Viewpoint
	"Marriage: Much More Than Legal Benefits" by David Fowler
	Marriage is not a relationship that society created in order to give some people benefits and deny them to others. Rather, “marriage” is the name that societies worldwide have given to a unique relationship between men and women that provides particular benefits to society. Read the full commentary.

	Latest News
	Who will the Governor follow on the sex ed bill - Planned Parenthood or you?
	As of “press time,” Governor Haslam has not acted upon Senate Bill 3310 that makes it clear that sex ed programs in schools are to be abstinence-centered and must not promote, encourage, or condone sexual activity as programs being taught by Planned Parenthood and others have been doing. (See FAQ’s 5, 6 and 7 here to learn about their sex ed classes.) Reportedly, Planned Parenthood has been trying to flood the governor’s office with emails based on its fabrications of what the bill actually says. Read The Real Facts about SB 3310 and the definition of "gateway sexual activity." Pray that the Governor will see through the subterfuge and sign into law this badly needed legislation.

	Members of Congress deeply concerned over Vanderbilt's discriminatory policy
	Vanderbilt’s “all comers” policy has drawn the ire of 36 members of Congress, who have written the university urging it to change its policy as applied to student religious groups. The Congressional letter notes the university's misapplication of federal law and concludes that the school’s “double standard ... suggests hostility on the part of Vanderbilt toward religious student groups.” And Governor Haslam’s threatened veto of the bill protecting Vanderbilt’s campus ministries resulted in the Family Research Council’s FRCAction affiliate urging its members nationwide to contact the Governor in opposition to his announced position.

	Christian beliefs can be shared on Tennessee's public college campuses
	After having to file a lawsuit, John McGlone’s right to discuss his faith on public property was upheld by a federal appellate court. The court ruled that Mr. McGlone’s First Amendment right to share his Christian beliefs in a mall-like area at Tennessee Tech was violated when school officials insisted that he give the school two weeks’ advance notice and disclose what he wanted to talk about. [Editor’s Note: Mr. McGlone was represented by attorney Nate Kellum, Chief Counsel for the Center for Inalienable Rights in Memphis. Mr. Kellum is the featured speaker at the FACT Forum on May 31st in Bartlett, TN. More information here.]

	Knoxville approves special protections for homosexual and transgender city employees
	Knoxville's City Council unanimously approved an ordinance making those who engage in homosexual conduct and cross-dressing a protected class of city employees. The city’s churches were apparently as silent as the proverbial church mouse about it.

	North Carolina becomes 31st state to pass amendment protecting true marriage
	The state constitutional amendment to protect marriage as being between one man and one woman passed resoundingly by 61% to 39%. Although the NAACP and President Obama opposed the amendment, black voters once again overwhelmingly supported true marriage, accurately understanding that same-sex "marriage" is not a civil right. While same-sex "marriage" has been legislatively and judicially enacted elsewhere, no similar measure put before voters has lost.

	Obama comes out and endorses same-sex "marriage"
	President Obama supported same-sex marriage in 1996 while running in a liberal district for the Illinois legislature; then when running for President in 2008 he said marriage is between a man and a woman; now he comes out and says he supports same-sex "marriage" after all. It seems the President’s Christian beliefs change, too. During the 2008 presidential race, he told Rick Warren, "I believe that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. For me as a Christian, it is a sacred union." But maybe not so sacred for the President after all. On Wednesday, he told ABC News that he and the First Lady are Christians, "and obviously this position may put us at odds with others, but when we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is not just Christ's sacrifice on our behalf, but the golden rule, treat others the way you want to be treated."

	Social issues had prominent role in recently ended legislative session
	The end of the 107th General Assembly came as several media stories focused on the social issues debated by the legislature this year. With Representative Jimmy Naifeh no longer Speaker of the state House, bills addressing social issues that reflect the values of a majority of Tennesseans are no longer killed in subcommittees and can finally be addressed, though the Governor apparently doesn't see some of these issues as "substantive."


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Video of the Week

Christian-owned company in Kentucky faced with legal action for not making shirts for gay event.
"If there's a specific message that conflicts with my convictions, then I can't promote that." – Owner
Watch video report from ADF


	The FACT Report The Media Gets it Wrong Vandy Has A Choice As Good As It Gets in Tennessee FACT Report Archive Heard weekly on the Bott Radio Network: Memphis WCRV 640 AM Nashville WCRT 1160 AM (Full station list below) And on Appalachian Radio Group stations: Kingsport WPWT 870 AM / 100.7 FM & WHGG 1090 AM


	Current Legislation Track legislation FACT is watching in the TN General Assembly.


	Upcoming Events May 15 - Chattanooga Community Legislative Briefing May 17 - Nashville Community Legislative Briefing May 31 - Memphis FACT Forum with Nate Kellum June 28 - Memphis FACT Forum with TN Secretary of State Tre Hargett July 17 - Hendersonville Living Sent Ministries Lunch October 11 - Nashville Care Net 2012 Conference

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Our weekly one-minute radio commentary, The FACT Report, is heard on the Bott Radio Network:

Clarksville -- 99.5 FM
Dickson – 91.5 FM
Gallatin – 93.9 FM

Lebanon – 101.9 FM
Memphis – 640 AM & 90.5 FM
Nashville – 1160 AM, 89.1 FM & 103.9 FM

And on Appalachian Radio Group stations:

Kingsport WPWT 870 AM / 100.7 FM and WHGG 1090 AM

Family Action Council of Tennessee, Inc.
2000 Mallory Lane, Ste. 130-167
Franklin, TN 37067-8231
(615) 591-2090

info@FACTn.org